Peter Benoit Huis

About the museum

Peter Benoit was born in Harelbeke in 1834 into a modest family. His father was a musician himself and gave him his first lessons; as a choirboy he got to know church music. He studied at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, won the Prix de Rome in 1857 and then went to Germany and Paris, where he became, among other things, a conductor for Offenbach's operetta company.

Back in Brussels he chose Dutch for his compositions and later, as director of the music school in Antwerp, chose for music of his own Flemish character and for music education for the people. He is known as the man who taught his people to sing.

The birthplace cottage on the Marktstraat is a protected monument and shows how a poor family lived in the nineteenth century. Next to it is the museum, which the city of Harelbeke completely renewed in 2002. Five women from Benoit's life tell his story there: his mother, his acquaintance from Paris, his wife, the governor's daughter from Antwerp and his last muse.

The museum works interactively, with sound showers for different music genres, touchscreens and a film about Benoit's international significance. It also contains a library with materials about the composer and a collection of nearly 4,000 folk songs that founder Paul Vandebuerie gathered. The exhibition space hosts changing exhibitions by local artists.

Highlights

• Authentic birthplace cottage of Peter Benoit (protected monument)
• Interactive museum in which five women tell the composer's story
• Sound showers with different music genres
• Collection of nearly 4,000 folk songs
• Escape game “Strofekraker” in the birthplace cottage

Permanent exhibition

• Peter Benoit Huis: museum en geboortehuisje – An interactive museum about the life and music of Peter Benoit, with sound showers, a film and the authentic birthplace cottage next door.

Operated by

Stad Harelbeke

Admission & discounts

The rate of €2 per person applies to a guided visit. For an individual visit during exhibitions no admission price is listed. As a member of Open Monumenten (Herita) you can collect a loyalty point there.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Peter Benoit Huis is fully wheelchair-accessible. The escape game in the birthplace cottage is currently not wheelchair-accessible.

Kids & families

The escape game “Strofekraker” in the birthplace cottage is intended for 2 to 5 players aged 12 and over; for players under 16 at least one adult supervisor is required. The rooms are small with low ceilings and there are no physical challenges.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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